Comet ISON has brightened and is now in the constellation Virgo in the predawn sky. As of November 9, from a dark sky location, Comet ISON is bright enough to see with any telescope that Orion offers, shining around magnitude 8.0. So grab your gear and see the comet! Some tips for comet viewers are below:

Comet ISON, imaged on 10.06.13 by Doug Hubbell.

Take a telescope. While comet ISON has brightened a lot, it is still needs a telescope the week of November 11 to see it. By the end of the week, it should be visible in large binoculars.

Use low power. You don't need a high power to see the comet. A low power eyepiece (with a larger number or focal length, say 18mm or larger) gives a wide field of view and a brighter image, perfect for comet ISON.

Get away from city lights. We can't emphasize enough that the comet is best seen from a dark sky location (one where you can see the milky way). City lights and moonlight vastly overpower most stars, galaxies ands comets.

Rise early. The comet is rapidly moving towards the sun in the morning sky, so you need to get out pre dawn to catch it now. The best viewing will be this week, about 4 a.m., and before 5:15 a.m. as the sky will brighten so much after about 5:15 that the comet is overpowered by the pre-dawn sky.

Know where to look. The comet is still relatively small and dim, so you can't walk outside, look up and see it - though it may get that bright later this year. Check out Orion's Comet ISON page in the Community section of telescope.com for maps and charts of its location, and any new updates. Resources such as Starry Night software will help you get an up-to-date star chart, but remember, the comet is moving pretty fast against the background stars and its position changes slightly every day.

Astro-images taken through a telescope on a tracking mount provide breathtaking color and detail that you just can't see with your eyes alone. The astro-images on our web site demonstrate the imaging capabilities of the products used and are not intended to represent what you will see when you look through a telescope.
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Automatically locate and track 42,000 celestial objects with the Orion SkyQuest XT8g telescope and included computerized GoTo system. Provides bright, clear, crisp images of deep-sky objects as well as the moon and planets.

The Orion 15x70 Astro-Binoculars pull in lots of light for faint deepsky objects, are fully multi-coated, fully internally baffled, and best of all, are affordable! Eyeglass wearers will also enjoy the long 18mm eye relief for a comfortable view.

The Orion StarBlast 4.5 EQ Reflector is a perfect family telescope. The short focal length allows you to see more of the sky, which makes it easier for beginners to find objects. The adjustable tripod makes this a good choice for the whole family.

For deep sky observing in light-polluted areas this 1.25" Orion SkyGlow Broadband Telescope filter is perfect. It blocks the most common wavelengths of light pollution for increased contrast and better views.

At Orion, we are committed to sharing our knowledge and passion for astronomy and astrophotography with the amateur astronomy community. Visit the Orion Community Center for in-depth information on telescopes, binoculars, and astrophotography. You can find astrophotography "how to" tips and share your best astronomy pictures here. Submit astronomy articles, events, and reviews, and even become a featured Orion customer!